u/jabronified

No. 8: Caleb Martin (2024)

• Declined 5-yrs, $65M deal from Heat
• Signed 4-yrs, $35M deal with 76ers
• Still under contract but production has dropped sharply; likely near-minimum player after current deal

No. 7: Jonathan Kuminga (2025)

• Declined 3-yrs, $75M deal from Warriors (third year team option)
• Signed a two-year, $46.8 million deal with a second-year team option
• After a trade, second year ~$25m option denied by Hawks, signed 2-yrs, $12.4M deal with T’Wolves
• Earning $6 million in 2026-27 instead of $25m with the warriors with a third year option

No. 6: Donatas Motiejūnas (2016)

• Declined/lost out on 4-yrs, ~$35-37M deal with Rockets
• Signed 1-yr, $1.5M min deal with Pelicans
• Played only 37 more NBA games and has been out of the league since

No. 5: Shabazz Muhammad (2017)

• Declined 4-yrs, ~$40M+ extension from Timberwolves
• Signed 2-yrs, $3.4M min deal with Timberwolves
• Out of the league after the 2017-18 season

No. 4: Montrezl Harrell (2020)

• Declined reported 4-yrs, $80M deal from Hornets
• Signed 2-yrs, $19M deal with Lakers
• Harrell earned roughly $25 million over that same span, and $39.5 million across his nine-year career.

No. 3: Dennis Schröder (2021)

• Declined 4-yrs, $84M deal from Lakers
• Signed 1-yr, $5.9M deal with Celtics
• Later landed multi-year deals but still, $34 million he earned over that four-season stretch pales in comparison to the $84 million deal that the Lakers were reportedly willing to offer him in 2021

No. 2: Nerlens Noel (2017)

• Declined 4-yrs, $70M deal from Mavs
• Signed 1-yr, $4.2M qualifying offer with Mavs
• From there, Noel signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the New York Knicks in 2020 and then re-upped on a three-year, $28.8 million contract the following summer. However, he wound up getting bought out of that contract in February 2023 and has appeared in only three NBA games since then.

No. 1: James Harden (2021-2024)

• Declined 3-yrs, $161M extension from Nets (and larger potential deals later). He would be eligible for a four-year, $227 million extension the ensuing offseason.
• Morey convinced Harden to sign a two-year, $68.6 million below-max contract. After not receiving the max extension allegedly promised from the Sixers, Harden then agreed to a two-year, $70 million deal with the Clippers
• Earned just over $100M in the 3 year window the $161M Nets extension would have covered, and never received the max he was looking for (still $500m+ in career earnings)

Source

Lanterns writers working the fryers?

Statement from lawyers for Jeanie Buss: "As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is “out” as controlling owner. This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious “information” to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes."

NBA Chief Communications Officer: "ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation - for which the NBA declined to cooperate - contains numerous and significant inaccuracies. The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/jeanie-buss-opposes-sale-family-stake.html

NBA puts ESPN on blast for 'significant inaccuracies' in Kawhi Leonard investigation report - Yahoo Sports

Also getting a bit of Mike Ryan

i had my mom drop me and my friend off yesterday at the venue of the yeat show today in fort lauderdale to take a pic of the sign outside. she didnt respond to pick us back up so we got an uber back home. she eventually came home at like 2 in the morning smelling like straight weed (she is very against smoking) and someone sent me this IG story from yeats opener. i wish i was lying.

The legal filing accuses WIRED of cherry picking information from hacked data to create a “false implication” that MSG tracks LGBTQIA celebrities for exclusionary purposes. While the arena acknowledged keeping information on celebrities’ sexual orientations, it said the purpose of this information was “to further inclusion” by inviting LGBTQIA celebrities to supportive events, identifying sales and sponsorship opportunities, and facilitating donations and community outreach.

On July 9th, WIRED ran an article headlined “Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities” that reported the arena designated some actors, musicians, including rappers, and other celebrities with risk levels and kept track of the sexual orientation of some.

In a statement respond to the suit, WIRED said, “We stand by this reporting, and plan to vigorously defend it against this baseless and ridiculous lawsuit. We look forward to continuing our coverage of MSG, and on billionaire James Dolan’s use of technology across his entertainment empire. It’s one part of our wider mission and the critical job of journalists, now more than ever: holding power to account.”
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